Late last year, in the final days that Republicans controlled both houses of the Michigan Legislature, they passed a new law requiring citizen-units to show a picture ID in order to vote. This law was signed by Governor John Engler earlier this month. Here I reproduce without permission a news brief from the Lansing State Journal, which gives some reactions to the new law. Particularly interesting to me is the promise of selective enforcement from the Governor's spokesman. ' LAWMAKER SEEKS VOTER LAW REVIEW ' Pontiac -- A Republican lawmaker has asked the U.S. Justice ' Department to review a new state law that will require voters to show ' photo identification to cast ballots. ' Rep. Greg Kaza of Rochester Hills wrote to Attorney General Janet ' Reno this week to seek the review, The Oakland Press reported Thursday. ' The new law requires all voters to have a state photo ID card, such ' as a driver's license or an ID card people receiving public assistance ' are required to have. ' Kaza said Wednesday he wrote to Reno that "Public Act 583 of 1996 ' has the potential to intimidate certain classes of voters, including ' senior citizens, from exercising their democratic right to vote. They ' should not be disenfranchised from exercising their right to vote ' under the United States Constitution." ' Gov. John Engler signed the bill last week. His administration ' says it is needed to protect the integrity of the voting process, but ' critics, mostly Democrats, say it would exclude some people from voting. ' "It is our belief you need an ID in society today," Engler spokesman ' John Truscott said. "And only if you are challenged at the ballot box ' do you have to show an ID." ' Michigan Attorney General Frank Kelley already has been asked to ' issue an opinion on whether the new law is constitutional. :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: "We are surrounded by :: Lou Poppler <lwp@mail.msen.com> :: insurmountable opportunity." :: http://www.msen.com/~lwp/ :: :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: -- Pogo (Walt Kelly)